Siobhan McGrath makes Croke Park her own as Sarsfields end Slaughtneil dominance 3 months ago

Siobhan McGrath makes Croke Park her own as Sarsfields end Slaughtneil dominance

Every once in a while, a player steps up.

They say big players make big plays in big games but, on occasions like these, the best players produce generational performances.

Think of 16-year-old David Clifford ripping St. Pat's apart for Brendan's in the colleges final, announcing himself to the country and getting acquainted with a piece of land he'll lord for the next decade.

Think of Ciarán McDonald versus Dublin in '06. Think Lar Corbett's hat-trick.

Days and displays that will stand the test of time. Feats that instantly come to mind with just the mention of the person's name.

Siobhan McGrath joins them in the pantheon. Siobhán McGrath 2020.

At the third time of asking, Sarsfields clinched the All-Ireland senior camogie title and, at the third time of asking, they finally overcame Slaughtneil.

The Derry juggernaut were charging towards an unprecedented fourth national title in succession but the 2017 and 2018 runners-up found it within themselves to derail the Emmet's and they found Siobhan McGrath in no mood for any more hard luck stories.

The Galway champions set the tone in the first period, taking a 0-6 to 0-3 lead into the break with sisters Orlaith and Siobhan McGrath nailing all of their scores. But Slaughtneil came like they always would and, with time running out, Sars were on the back foot again.

In injury time, with the Ulster lynchpins 0-9 to 0-8 ahead, it was another McGrath combination that won the All-Ireland.

Niamh McGrath found Orlaith McGrath who found a way the whole to the goalmouths through two tackles before she found her sister Siobhan to do the rest and rescue the club from another defeat at the hands of Slaughtneil.

Just like in the intermediate final, the senior decider came down to a last-gasp goal and Sarsfields clung on for dear life to see it out.

Slaugnteil had a right to feel hard done by when a free wasn't given at the death, when it looked warranted, but it's hard to begrudge Sarsfields their success and the sight of father and daughter, Siobhan and Michael McGrath - manager and star player - embracing at the end was enough to warm the heart of any GAA person.